LAS VEGAS – Khabib Nurmagomedov insists a victory at UFC 209 will make him the true UFC lightweight championship. He doesn’t care if Conor McGregor or anyone else thinks otherwise.

Nurmagomedov (24-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who faces Tony Ferguson (22-3 MMA, 12-1 UFC) for the interim UFC lightweight title in Saturday’s UFC 209 co-main event, believes his showdown with “El Cucuy” will determine the true No. 1 fighter in the world at his weight. McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) holds the undisputed title, but that matters little to the undefeated Dagestani.

“100 percent I think this is real championship fight,” Nurmagomedov told reporters at today’s UFC 209 open workouts. “I don’t care about (McGregor). You guys know Uncle Dana (White) give him gift. He jump over all contenders, and he fight for the title.”

UFC 209 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

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McGregor, No. 1 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings, claimed the UFC title with a second-round knockout of Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 in November. He got the shot at the belt despite never competing in a UFC fight at the weight previously, and that likely came as a result of his tremendous stardom in the sport and the fact he dominated the featherweight division previously.

Although “The Notorious” was able to take full advantage of his matchup with Alvarez and win the belt in dominant fashion, Nurmagomedov said the performance by no means proved he’s the best 155-pound athlete in MMA. And that’s why he’s not worried about McGregor ahead of UFC 209.

“He caught him a couple times, he go down, Eddie Alvarez – this fight for me is a fake fight,” Nurmagomedov said. “I don’t think about him. We have real fight now. This is like the people’s main event. This is one of the biggest fights of 2017, of all time in the UFC. I think about other guys? Of course not. I’m going to make my win-streak a 25-win streak, take belt, become the new UFC lightweight and undisputed and undefeated champion, and after we’ll see what happens.”

No. 2-ranked Nurmagomedov said he takes some of the blame for the fact McGregor currently holds the top spot in the division. “The Eagle” was sidelined with a knee injury for two years just as he was moving within striking distance of the belt, but since his return has reestablished his position.

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He must get past No. 3-ranked Ferguson, who is riding a divisional best nine-fight UFC winning streak, in order to truly prove his worth, though. Nurmagomedov said he views the UFC 209 matchup as a much more difficult stylistic clash than if he were fighting McGregor.

Nurmagomedov called the clash with Ferguson the “best lightweight fight in UFC history” and said his performance on Saturday night will prove as much.

“I know before I don’t fight for the title because before I make mistakes,” Nurmagomedov said. “I had injuries, I had surgery because I was wrong. But at UFC 205 I should have fought for the title. (McGregor’s) Uncle Dana give him gift. I have to fight all contenders. Tony Ferguson before this fight have eight win streak. I have seven win streak. Why don’t we fight? Because this is a business matchup. This is money fight. This is why they make this fight. I understand, but people know who is the real fighter, who is the high level fighter in the lightweight division.”